THE 2020 GRAND NATIONAL RUNNERS & ODDS

The first winner of back-to-back Grand Nationals since Red Rum, Tiger Roll wrote himself into the history books. While plans are still up in the air for next season, he looks set to go to Cheltenham but weights will determine if he bids for a third Grand National in 2020.

Another class runner owned by the Ricci’s, Burrows Saint gave trainer Willie Mullins his first Irish Grand National win in 2019. A recent win at Punchestown also boosted his claims. Will only be 7 years old for the 2020 Grand National so may still be too young.

Going off on short odds, Rathvinden looked like the biggest challenge to Tiger Roll in 2019. He gave it all but had to settle for a very respectable third place finish under jockey Ruby Walsh.

As the winner of the Becher Chase, hopes were high in 2019 and Walk In The Mill didn’t disappoint. Running a great race he finished in 4th place. He has since won another Becher Chase and looks good for the 2020 Grand National.

Was entered in 2019 but was subsequently withdrawn probably because he was only 7 years old. Instead, he went for the Betway Bowl Chase but finished last. Otherwise, a sterling chaser who was 6th in the Gold Cup and also 6th in the Coral Welsh National in December.

Could this former Gold Cup winner be on his way to challenge over the Aintree fences for the 2020 Grand National? He was 4th in the Gold Cup last season and won at Aintree on his seasonal return in December. He’ll be near top weight though!

A very interesting 2020 Grand National prospect. Pulled up in the Irish Grand National at the end of last season but has since finished 2nd in the Becher Chase at Aintree before heading to Warwick to win a big race over 3m5f.

Nearly spoiled the Tiger Roll party in 2019 but had to settle for second place. The only mare to run in the race, she was also trainer Jessica Harrington’s first entry and a delight for those that had backed her each way at staggering odds of 125/1.

Borice has only been with trainer Gordon Elliott since November 2018. After a shaky start, he was given a nice long break to settle before coming back in June to win three back-to-back races. Will need to step up in trip to be a serious contender for the Grand National 2020.

Winner at the Cheltenham Festival in 2019 in the National Hunt Chase over 3m7f. It was also his first attempt at a race of 3m+ so to win it was quite an achievement. Has since run in the Becher Chase at Aintree and finished 5th at Warwick over another lengthy 3m5f.

Always does well around the Grand National fences. Was 4th in 2018 and fifth in 2019 despite being top weight. He was also second in the Gold Cup so whether he will take his chances for the third time in 2020 remains to be seen, especially as he has been running so well this season, finishing last in both of his races so far.

A photo finish in 2018 meant hopes were in 2019 for Pleasant Company. Unfortunately, horse and jockey parted ways when Paul Townend was unseated at the 27th fence. Will he back for a third attempt in 2020? His Official Rating has dropped a bit so he would carry less weight, giving him a better chance.

Winner of the Topham Chase at Aintree in 2019, Cadmium is a solid chaser that has won or placed in 10 of his 14 starts over fences. However, he will need to start running at 3m+ if he wants to enter the Grand National 2020 because right now he wouldn’t even qualify!

A Cheltenham winner in the Kim Muir over 3m2f, he took his chances at the Irish Grand National last season but unfortunately fell. This season has been a mixed bag but he did unseat last time out at Leopardstown.

Has already stepped up in trip despite his young age and was second at Aintree in the Handicap Chase. Undoubtedly will still be too young for the 2020 Grand National and connections may swerve it, especially as he has not been on form so far this season.

A really great chaser and was a high hope for the Pipe’s going into the 2019 Grand National. But he pulled up at the 28th fence. Still young and will only be 8 years old by the time the 2020 Grand National rolls around.

The winner in 2017 was back in 2019 to regain his crown having spent a year recovering from an injury that saw him miss out in 2018. He certainly gave a good account of himself but had to settle for 6th place. He could very well be back in 2020!

Talkischeap has really stepped up in distance over the last year and won at Sandown, over 3m5f, in April 2019. It was a solid win in the Bet365 Gold Cup and one that will boost his rating should he aim for the Grand National 2020.

Ran but fell in last season’s Grand National but looks set to tackle the Aintree obstacles again in 2020. Has started the season well with back-to-back wins and has good form over the longer distances.

Went straight into the Grand National 2020 betting market following his epic win in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase in November. The Handicapper went to town on him and instantly bumped up his Official Rating from 149 to 160. That potentially puts him on a weight of around 11-06 instead of around 10-09 for the National – ouch!

Was narrowly beaten into third place last time out at Newcastle but despite having a lot of potential, has only just stepped out of the novice ranks so may need more experience to be considered a Grand National 2020 contender.

Winner of the Midlands Grand National in March and the Welsh Grand National in December, Potters Corner has stamina in bucket loads. No issues with his stamina but he will carry a lot of weight and will do better if it rains a bit before the race!

Despite high hopes, Vintage Clouds fell foul of fence number one in 2019. With almost no running achieved, he headed to Ayr for the Scottish National a week later and finished in 6th place there instead.

A really good chaser who was fourth in the recent Ladbrokes Trophy Chase. He also looks like Nicky Henderson’s only real contender for the Grand National 2020, a race the trainer has yet to win.

One for all the dare-devils out there, Takingrisks is a very experienced chaser who has won or placed 11 times from 18 starts over fences. Winner of the Scottish National in 2019, he has stamina, jumps well and is on very good form.

Cloth Cap looks like Jonjo O’Neill’s big hope for another Grand National win. That said, he is lightly chased with only five starts over fences, though he has won or placed in four of them. Was 3rd in the Scottish National last season.

There was a lot of chatter about Give Me A Copper for last season’s Grand National, mostly because he is co-owned by Sir Alex Ferguson. This season his prospects look better after a win on his seasonal return at Wincanton in November.

Chris’s Dream announced himself when winning the Troytown Handicap Chase in November. A novice chaser last season, he may still need more experience before tackling the Grand National fences.

Very young at just six years old, though he will be 7 by the time the Grand National 2020 rolls around. He’s a handy hurdler turned chaser but tends to perform better on the softer ground.

A very lightly chased and young horse, Jerrysback will need to add a few more runs under his belt this season if the plan takes him to Aintree in 2020. Has a solid 3rd place finish over 3m7f at Cheltenham under his belt so has that going for him.

Formerly a decent hurdler who has a few trips to Aintree, Debece only started his chasing career just over a year ago. He has had four starts over fences winning and placing in three novice chases. However, last time out in better company and a higher class of race he struggled to keep up.

If ever there was a horse that was backed so heavily that his odds shifted from 80/1 to 25/1 on the day of the Grand National, it is Livelovelaugh. Clearly, the name caught the public’s attention and they went crazy for him. He got around but was out of the money in 11th place.

Was on great form on the run-up to the 2019 race but stamina was always a big question mark. That proved to be through as he was pulled up after being hampered by a faller.

A really great chaser in the making, Kildisart has been steadily climbing through the class ranks running in five chases last season. That season culminated in a win in the Betway Handicap Chase at Aintree last April. Connections may opt for the Cheltenham Gold Cup instead this season.

Was hampered at the first in 2019 and ultimately unseated Robbie Power about half way around the race. But at only 8 years old, he could definitely make another appearance in the 2020 Grand National.

Another good chance for the Grand National 2020 for Lucinda Russell. Big River was 5th in the Scottish National in April and with a bit more experience over the longer distances could be one to watch.

Another potential cracker of an entry from trainer Colin Tizzard, West Approach didn’t do well in the Ladbrokes Trophy Chase however his win at Cheltenham two weeks earlier was a good boost to his form.

If ever there was a horse to rival Tiger Roll for sheer number of fans, Frodon would be it, especially with jockey Bryony Frost on board. A spectacular chaser, he was the winner of the Ryanair Chase at Cheltenham last season but I just can’t see him going to the Grand National 2020. Maybe in 2021.

Undoubtedly a chaser with bags of talent, and one who runs particularly well at Ascot, Vinndication will be targeting the likes of the King George and the Cheltenham Gold Cup this season. Unlikely to see him in the Grand National.

Very much a veteran of Cheltenham, Cogry has run there a staggering 15 times. He did run in the Becher Chase at Aintree in 2016 but unseated his rider and hasn’t returned since. Won last time out at Cheltenham and may sneak into the top 40 for the Grand National 2020.

No stranger to the Grand National, Regal Encore finished in 8th place in 2017, skipped 2018, and was back again to finish 7th in 2019. His only issue this time around is that at 12 years old, there will be younger and faster horses to contend with.

Wasn’t really in 2020 Grand National contention until he won the Paddy Power Chase at Leopardstown in December. That bumped up his Official Rating so he should make the cut. He was also 6th in the Irish Grand National last season.

Is definitely on form and on a winning streak, however, his official rating may mean a long wait to see if he actually makes the cut for the Grand National this time around.

Just made the cut for the 2019 race and there were plenty who fancied his chances. But it wasn’t his race and he weakened 4 out before being pulled up 2 out.

A fine chaser who has had a mixed season so far – winning at Limerick but pulled up at Newbury. That was a big step up in class and company so she may need more experience before trying her hand at the National fences.

Yala Enki is a fine horse that recently moved from trainer Venetia Williams to Paul Nicholls. Has had a few Grand National entries but has never actually run in it and instead ran in the Gold Cup last season, finishing in 7th place.

It must be quite frustrating to own Yorkhill as he appears to be an all or nothing kind of runner. Unseats in one race then wins the next, pulls up then places – and that was just last season. This one hasn’t started well with a fall at Newbury and with Cheltenham on the cards, connections may bypass Aintree.

A horse with so much unfilled promise, Minella Rocco had, what can only be described as a dire season last year. He pulled-up in three consecutive races including the Grand National and started this season much the same way at Cheltenham. I don’t even think he will make the cut this year as his OR has dropped from 155 to 137.

Tout Est Permis is a decent chaser who has bagged some prestigious races including the Troytown Chase in 2018. He could very well make the cut for 2020 but he is very young and doesn’t ever really run much beyond 3m. It’s more likely that he will go to Cheltenham and swerve Aintree for another year.

Ran a good race in the Welsh National to finish 9th but was a long way off the winner Potters Corner, trailing him by 29L. Was also a runner in the RSA Chase at Cheltenham so he knows how to run in good company. He could do well.

Soupy Soups is turning into a fine and formidable chaser who has been moving through the classes at a nice, steady pass culminating in a second-place finish at Wincanton in the Badger Beers behind Give Me A Copper in November. However, his OR is quite low and he may not make the cut in 2020.